Due to its popularity, Greenwood's Taproot Theatre is bringing Drama with Your Mama, a theater class for toddlers, back for a summer run.

Drama with Your mama launched last spring and provides parents and caregivers a fun and enriching way to bond with their children while encouraging social and self-awareness in the toddlers.

Taproot Theatre Education Director Sara Willy told the Ballrad News-Tribune in May that children get a lot out of the class. Future actors are learning skills that will serve them in that pursuit, while other children learn how to use their voices, bodies and space while being aware of others, she said.

She said the goal is to build confidence in children. For example, when asked to show what a tree looks like, young children will often look to adults to show them first. Drama With Your Mama will give them the confidence and ability to make their own choices and show what a tree looks like to them, Willy said.

The class, for children ages 1 to 3, takes place on Mondays from July 12 through Aug. 16 at Timberlake Church, located at 1460 N.W. 73rd St. The six-week session is $75 or $15 on a drop-in basis.

Teacher Jessica Brady applauds the three slithering snakes in front of her during Drama With Your Mama, Taproot Theatre's acting class for children ages 1 to 3.

This story has been corrected. We previously wrote that Cox & Box was a Gilbert & Sullivan piece, which it is not. We apologize for the error and appreciate those who pointed out our mistake. Thank you.

Ballard resident Richard S. Hodsdon has performed with the Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society, which recently celebrated the grand opening of its new rehearsal space in the Crown Hill Center, since 1974. He said he loves their music and lyrics.

Hodsdon stars as Mr. Box in the comedy opera "Cox & Box" about a greedy landlord who rents a room to two different men who work two different shifts without their knowing about it until, of course, they find out.

"It offers a surmountable challenge in terms of music and theatricality," said Hodsdon, who is retired from his work with sea food companies, including Trident Seafoods in Ballard.

He recently earned a Masters of Arts in teaching at Seattle Pacific University.

Taproot Theatre’s intimate new staging of "Man of La Mancha" will allow audiences to experience Don Quixote’s impossible dream like never before.

Featuring the story and songs of an immortal classic, this Tony Award-winning musical comes to the Taproot stage, located at 204 N. 85th St., with fresh, acoustic arrangements.

Don Quixote is mad, mad enough to dream an impossible dream while tilting after windmills with his trusty sidekick Sancho Panza. Quixote’s romantic quest is as crazy as he is. But, is his impossible dream madness or vision? The trial is about to begin.

"Man of La Mancha" provides a glimpse into the Spanish literature that inspired Picasso before "Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris" opens at the Seattle Art Museum in October.

Inspired by Spanish writers, including Cervantes, Picasso wove characters such as Don Quixote—a revolutionary like himself—into some of his art.

"Man of La Mancha," directed by producing artistic director Scott Nolte with musical direction by Edd Key, opens on July 9 and runs through Aug. 7, with low-price previews on July 7 and July 8, plus a pay-what-you-can performance on July 14.

More than 200 people attended the Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society's open house celebration at the Crown Hill Center June 8 to see its new rehearsal and set-building space.

Before guests toured the 5,000-square-foot indoor facility, transformed from an indoor/outdoor school play court, the Gilbert & Sullivan chorus treated the audience to some numbers from "HMS Pinafore" and "Cox & Box" in the adjacent gym.

Those Gilbert & Sullivan classics will be performed at Bagley Wright Theatre July 9 to July 11, July 15 to July 18 and July 22 to July 24.

The rehearsal space's floor has markings that duplicate the measurements of the theatre so people and props can move seamlessly between rehearsal space and performance stage.

"This is a tremendous facility," said David Ross, KIRO-FM radio host, and Gilbert & Sullivan aficionado. The facility relocated from 522 Dexter Ave. N. to the Crown Hill Center, located at 9250 14th Ave. N.W.

Seattle radio personality and Gilbert & Sullivan Society aficionado David Ross performs as Dick Deadeye in "HMS Pinafore" June 8 at the open house for the society's new Crown Hill rehearsal space.

The 21st Annual Free Summer Concerts and Events at the Locks got started witht he Boeing Employees Concert Band June 5. During the next thee months, more than 30 bands, plays, shows and orchestras will set up at the Ballard Locks.

All events are free and open to the public, but there is a limited amount of chairs, available on a first-come basis.

Schedule:

June 12 (2 p.m.-3 p.m.) – Highline Community Symphonic Band

June 13 (2 p.m.-4 p.m.) – Open Date

June 19 (2 p.m.-3 p.m.) – Nordic Heritage Museum/Children's Dance

June 20 (2 p.m.-3 p.m.) – Elliot Bay Pipe Band

June 26 (2 p.m.-4 p.m.) – Eastside Modern Jazz Orchestra

June 27 (2 p.m.-3:30 p.m.) – Microsoft Orchestra

July 3 (2 p.m.-4 p.m.) – Woodinville Community Band

July 4 (2 p.m.-3 p.m.) – Seattle Civic Band (Marching Music)

July 10 (2 p.m.-3 p.m.) – Puget Sound Symphony Chamber Players

July 11 (2 p.m.-3 p.m.) – Greenwood Concert Band

July 11 (8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) – USACE Seattle District Car Show

06/09/2010

Photo credit:

Michael Harthorne

From now until Labor Day, the Ballard Locks will host more than 30 free concerts and events.

Seventeen of Ballard resident Celia Nicks' violin students, some as young as 4 years old, gathered onstage together to play "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" variations to cap off their June 2 concert at the Nordic Heritage Museum.

Originally from Michigan, Nicks has been living in Ballard for two years and teaching violin "forever."

She started playing piano when she was young but fell in love with the sound of the violin and switched to the instrument at 12.

Nicks has passed her love of violin on to countless students, including her own family. Two of Nicks' grandchildren performed in the concert, and her son, another violin player, was in attendance.

Ballard Big Picture is a column of scenes from around the neighborhood. If you would like to submit a photo for use on this site and in the Ballard News-Tribune, please send it to Michael Harthorne at michaelh@robinsonnews.com. Be sure to include your name and information about your photo.

06/03/2010

Photo credit:

Michael Harthorne

Four-year-old and 17-year-old violinists alike performed "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" together June 2 at the Nordic Heritage Museum under Ballard instructor Celia Nicks.

When The Bit Saloon announced it was closing in October 2009, it left scores of metal, punk and hardcore bands, not to mention countless other fans of the 62-year-old Ballard bar, in despair.

Reactions to the news that The Bit, located at 4818 17th Ave. N.W., was closing ranged from "That sucks" to "Where the hell am I going to drink now?"

But, thanks to two Burien residents, the bar has been given a second life, revived as The 2 Bit Saloon.

Jessica Young and Jamie Bernard took over the lease in January and officially opened The 2 Bit May 8.

Young has 12 years of experience as a bartender, most recently seven years at The Funhouse downtown.

"Jamie has lots of experience in going to bars," Young joked.

Last years, Young and Bernard were looking for opportunities to start their own bar because Young said she didn't want to be a bartender forever and she wanted to help keep local music alive in small venues.

The two focused their search in Ballard and Fremont. Young said those neighborhoods are old Seattle, and while they have a few condos, they still maintain an industrial area, which cuts down on noise complaints for live music.

05/27/2010

Photo credit:

Michael Harthorne

Jessica Young and Jamie Bernard reopened shuttered Ballard bar and music venue The Bit Saloon as The 2 Bit Saloon May 8.

This June, The Sunset Tavern, the eclectic Ballard Avenue venue that boasts "the cleanest bathrooms in rock 'n' roll," hits the 10-year mark after thousands of shows and millions of drinks.

Sunset booker Mike Jaworski, who has worked various jobs at the club for seven years and played it about 30 times, said celebrating The Sunset's 10th anniversary is extremely special to everyone involved with the club.

It has a close-knit staff who truly love and believe in it, he said.

"It's a pretty big accomplishment to have survived as a successful music venue for 10 years, especially in today's rough economy," Jaworski said. "We couldn't have done it without a great staff and so many talented artists who have performed here over the years."